Kinda OT..Question about Gallbladder

Ok,,,,I am sceduled for gallbladder removal in the morning and I am so nervous right now and I am even thinking about calling to cancel.  

  I have been to the ER 3 times in the last 2 months due to a pain in my stomach, slightly in my lower, middle chest, right rib cage and all in my back, but more on the right.  Come to find out I have gallstones.  I have only had about 4 attacks where the pain gets real bad.  I don't get heartburn, only when I have these attacks it feels like I may have heartburn then.  The doctors said that my gallbladder needs to come out (but they are only making this decision by the stones and my pain)...nothing else.  They kept saying, "We truely believe it's your gallbladder."...I'm thinking that I want them to be sure!!!  I kept myself from reading on gallbladder because my husband said I souldn't because I start to worry...well, I started reading on it TODAY..and my surgery is tomorrow morning and I am just so scared right now...I read soooo many post where woman had even worst pain than before the surgery, more complications, weight gain and so on...I don't want any of this...I am fine other than having an episode every 3 or so weeks.  The pain is horrible, and last a good day and I am sore for a few days after but I rather so through that then go through something way worse....Does anyone know anything about this????  Anything would be great...Thanks so much!!!!

[JustMe0925]

Oh yeah,,,,I have only started getting this pain while pregnant and didn't get real bad (ER type bad) until about 2 months ago....My daughter is 3 months old.

[jennymay]

I had my gallbladder out in late February. I didn't have stones, but my gallbladder wasn't functioning to even half of what it should been. I had been having random attacks for years and years, but they never even thought about my gallbladder because I was young and I wasn't overweight. Well as of lately, now that I am a little overweight, they began to look at it, and found out that is exactly what had been causing me problems for years and years. The surgery itself was really quick, it was a laprascopy (sp?), so I have 4 little scars on my stomach. The recovery wasn't bad either, I was real sore for the first day, and then spent the next couple days sleeping and relaxing. The only thing that really bothered me afterwards was my stomach getting used to everything being different. This may be a little TMI, but I had diarrhea a lot, especially if ate greasy or fatty foods. But that has since gone away, and that was only about 7 months ago. Compared to the pain I was in, it was nothing!! Hope this helps :)

[BTS1022]

My neighbor had gallbladder issues with her last pregnancy. Infact they had induced her 2 months early so that she could have it removed. The baby turned out to be fine, and she went along with the surgery. She had some increased pain afterwards, but thats normal when you go through any type of major surgery. If the gallbladder isn't taken out then there is a good chance for long term illnesses.

[nikko*ttc]

I had my gallbladder removed last year in March. I feel so much better. I have one small complaint and that is for a few months after the surgery I would have to be very careful of what I ate and whether I would be close to a bathroom because once the urge hit I couldn't control it. That has finally cleared up and I still have to watch that I don't eat really greasy foods, but it isn't anywhere close to like it was. My doc called it dumping syndrome and said it was fairly common after any surgery that affects digestion and/or your bowels. If I had it to do all over again, I would definitely go for it. I am able to be more active now, I don't feel sick, my cycles regulated shortly thereafter, etc. I think the problem just threw my whole body out of whack and afterward everything started getting so much better.

[JustMe0925]

Thank yall so much.  Did yall seem to gain weight after the surgery??  And do yall get any kind of pains still??

[jennymay]

My weight didn't change at all, gain or loss. Two of my scars bug me sometimes, the one in my belly button, then the larger one right where my bra is, but they just kinda itch, they don't hurt. As far as the pains I got from my gallbladder, I haven't had pain like that since, it's awesome!!

[msgorgeous]

well my mom had her gall bladder removed but hers was an emergency surgery. she went to the er because of the pain they told her that if she waited any longer she would have died soo she was very lucky.Im not trying to scare you i just want you to know that its all for the best :) its actually very common in females and like the other woman said my mom had the same problems with there poo but it clears up.

[kjbutcher]

I had my gall bladder removed.  Trust me, the pains will get way worse.  I have been through the gall bladder pain and natural labor pain and I will take natural labor any day!!!  The surgery is not bad at all.  I was not in pain at all and only took one pain killer the whole time.  I had trouble getting out of bed and I walked really slow for about 5 days and that was it.  The only thing that was a side effect of the surgery was that every time I ate I had to go to the bathroom immediately.  Some times I would have to eat, go, and come back to finish my meal, but for a whole year I could eat anything and never gained a pound.  Since the surgery, I get phantom pains which are light heartburn pains, but nothing serious.  I am so incredibly happy that I had the surgery!  
I have spoken to several other people with gall bladder problems who did not get diagnosed as easily.  They had to have tubes and cameras down their throat and most got pancreatitis from it and were in major pain for months and months.  I would consider yourself lucky for a quick diagnosis and get the surgery.  Try not to worry.  It is very easy and you will come out just fine!  Good Luck to you!

[kazwel]

I had my gall bladder removed after my son was born,

I 100% agree with kjbutcher.  I would take labor any day over the gall badder attacks,  and like nikko i had to watch what i ate too much greasy food would cause the dumping syndrome.
I was heavier when i had my gall bladder out  around 200lbs.  I lost about 20lbs in the weeks following the surgery.

Good luck tomorrow, you will be just fine!
Welcome to the no gallbladder club  LOL

:)
Kazwel

[JustMe0925]

Thanks to you all.  I had the surgery and everything went just fine.  The morning of my surgery I was so nervous because the night before I read all the horror stories, yet everyone on this site made me feel much better about the surgery.   When I got to the hospital I told the nurse I wanted to talk with my doc about it some more before I went through with it.  I was very very close to not going through with the surgery.  I was so scared, crying, and wishing my mom was there.  I was acting like a lil kid.  A nurse came in that had the surgery about 10 years ago and she told me that she had been great since.  She made me feel much better.  I haven't even went to the potty once since my surgery and I was so nervous about eating and then having to rush to the potty...Hmm...I hope everything is ok and I didn't get the total opposite.    Anyway,  so far so good and I just wanted to thank you all for making me feel much better about this!!!

Oh!!  My doctor took a picture of it while it was still in so that he could show me that it needed to come out.  There was tissue attaching itself to the gallbladder and it wasn't suppose to.  So I guess I did good with going ahead with the surgery and not waiting.  Thanks again!!

[shay2420]

I can just answer from my own experience.  I had mine removed back in 2004.  i went to the ER had no idea what was going on.  The pain was worse than labor pains.  They said oh u got gas, gave me maloxx and sent me home that night i was back at the ER worse than before.  THey started the surgery ASAP.  All i can say is afterwards I was in worse pain.  Gas real bad, bloated and etc.  But after a few days I was fine.  It was supposed to be done and then a few hours go home.  HAHA Not me im not good with pain so i was there for 3 days.  I had laser surgery.
Hope that helps

[Cremzin]

Found this post from August... I am having my gallbladder taken out and I am terrified. I am scheduling the surgery tomorrow. I just had my second child 4 weeks ago. I had an ultrasound today and it showed my gallbladder is enlarged, the walls are very thick and I have gallstones. I have been have attacks since the end of my pregnancy.

I am wondering what I am going to do about breastfeeding? I want to continue nursing but not sure how that will work with having surgery and being in the hospital?

Can I put off the surgery off until I'm done nursing? (I nursed my daughter for 19 months and plan on nursing my son for at least a year)

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks